2026 ABSTRACT ART RETREAT - Provence SOUTH OF FRANCE
Unleash your creativity like never before, in a relaxed atmosphere, through different techniques which you will learn to use during this abstract workshop. You will also enjoy delicious food and wine, as well as breathtaking excursions to close by BLAVET CANYON, NICE, ROQUEBRUNE SUR ARGENS AND ITS BEAUTIFUL MOUNT AND LAKE, MANDELIEU-LA NAPOULE CASTLE and l’ÎLE d’OR (Golden Island) on Le Dramont’s 1944 landing beach in SAINT RAPHAËL. WINE TASTING. Beginners welcome!
Mediums: This art holiday lets you concentrate on different mediums throughout the week.
Tuition is in English. French and Italian also spoken by the tutor.
Mobility: You must be able to walk at an easy but normal pace. There is no need to be an athlete to take part in this holiday, however guests with mobility issues should contact us before booking.
What's included in this Provence South of France art holiday?
Group pick-up at NICE AIRPORT at 6.00 PM on Day 1. Group drop-off at NICE AIRPORT at 10:00 AM on Day 8.
TUITION by Marie Remond at the art studio.
ART MATERIALS provided.
ART EQUIPMENT provided.
PRIVATE ART STUDIO WORKSHOP at Azenart owner’s villa.
7 nights ACCOMMODATION.
ALL MEALS with wine at our villa and some restaurant meals. Please see schedule.
WINE TASTING at a local winery (we are in the midst of 18 wine domains).
PRIVATE VEHICLE for Local Transportation to and from painting sites and restaurant meals.
Astonishing sightseeing in NICE Old Town, MANDELIEU CASTLE, BLAVET CANYON, LE DRAMONT/SAINT RAPHAËL, ROQUEBRUNE SUR ARGENS and its beautiful mount and lake.
LIMITED TO 8 PARTICIPANTS.
ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS:
Ensuite room adjacent to the art studio (only 1 available).
Townhouse apartment in a 2 to 3 star residence with a pool.
Ensuite room at a typical Provence villa with a pool.
2026 DATES: June 23 - 30 2026
EVERYTHING LISTED INCLUDED IN THE HOLIDAY.
PRICES:
£175 at booking. The remainder 120 days prior to the holiday or within 4 working days after booking if less than 120 days to the holiday.
Please note: A knee surgery or a son’s wedding could pop up after you book! This is why our booking payments are transferable for a period of 12 to 24 months after the date of purchase under our Terms.
EVERYTHING LISTED INCLUDED IN THE HOLIDAY.
ENSUITE ROOM room adjacent to the art studio (only 1 available):
You are a solo traveller (like most participants): ENSUITE ROOM AT THE VILLA adjacent to the art studio. DOUBLE BED, PRIVATE BATHROOM (13 M2 in total) in single occupancy:
£175 Booking payment + £1990 for the week. ALL MEALS (except on the free day).
You are coming with your PARTNER (painting participant) and wish to stay AT THE ENSUITE ROOM AT THE VILLA adjacent to the art studio. 1 DOUBLE BED, PRIVATE BATHROOM (13 M2 in total) in double occupancy:
Per person £175 Booking payment + £1690 for the week. ALL MEALS (except on the free day).
BASIC ACCOMMODATION AT A RESIDENCE WITH A POOL. Practical two to three star family holiday standard townhouse apartment. If 4-star accommodation is not a must for you, this comfortable accommodation will be suiting:
You are a solo traveller (like most participants): PRIVATE ONE-BEDROOM TOWNHOUSE: Townhouse details: 1 bedroom, 1 living room, 1 kitchen, 1 bathroom, terrace:
£175 Booking payment + £1990 for the week. ALL MEALS (except on the free day).
You are coming with a PAINTING FRIEND: PRIVATE TWO-BEDROOM TOWNHOUSE with two bathrooms in a residence with a swimming pool. Townhouse details: 2 bedrooms, 1 living room, 1 kitchen, 2 bathrooms, terrace.
Per person £175 Booking payment + £1690 pp for the week. ALL MEALS (except on the free day).
DELUXE ACCOMMODATION AT A VILLA WITH A POOL:
You are a solo traveller (like most participants): ENSUITE BEDROOM at a beautiful Provence 200 M2 4-bedroom villa with a swimming pool:
£175 Booking payment + £2190 for the week. ALL MEALS (except on the free day).
You are coming with a PAINTING FRIEND/PARTNER: ENSUITE BEDROOM with 1 DOUBLE BED at a beautiful Provence 200 M2 4-bedroom villa with a swimming pool:
Per person £175 Booking payment + £1890 pp for the week. ALL MEALS (except on the free day).
You wish to come with a non-painter? Contact us before booking.
Not included: Getting to Nice airport on Day 1. City tax (£2.50 per night pp). 1 lunch and 1 dinner on the free day. Personal travel insurance.
ABSTRACT ART RETREAT IN PROVENCE/RIVIERA & WINE TASTING, SOUTH OF FRANCE SCHEDULE (Please note that the schedule could be switched around following weather forecasts or opening/closing times of places visited):
DAY 1. Group welcome at NICE AIRPORT, pick-up at 6.00 PM. (Please note that there can be no individual pick-ups). Group dinner at a lovely restaurant. Let the fun art week begin!
DAY 2. Late morning start where we will begin with a participative demo on the basics of abstract painting. We will study composition and techniques of abstract painting. This is followed by a delicious lunch at the villa. We will resume our painting session, followed by some WINE TASTING at a local winery. Those not interested will be taken back to the accommodation before going out for dinner.
What is ABSTRACT ART exactly?
Contrarily to a popular belief that abstract art is a work of art worked loosely with a lack of precision, an abstract painting is actually one where visual reality is not depicted. In the same painting, one person could for example, see liquid overflowing from a surface, while another could see hair on a deformed head. Abstract art communicates through shapes, lines, forms, colors, and sometimes tool marks which were used.
DAY 3: Mid morning start with a painting session and tutoring until a nice lunch break at the villa. Painting resumed for a shorter session in the afternoon, followed by some sightseeing in the BLAVET CANYON (accessible by car and a short walk) just a few minutes from the studio. You will be awed by the beautiful views of the Blavet’s pink cliffs, hills and Mediterranean sea off in the distance. Time to rest at the accommodation for a delicious dinner at a local restaurant.
Abstract art (continued): To be considered abstract, a work of art must be non-representational, with no clearly identifiable subjects or objects. It must be subjective. An abstract painting is the opposite of a figurative painting where is subject is chosen in the composition from the start. The abstract painter has great freedom when it comes to form and interpretation.
DAY 4: Full morning painting session followed by lunch at the villa. Afternoon spent in NICE, walking around NICE Old Town. (Those wishing to skip any outing can stay at the accommodation and rest!)
Instead of telling a story, an abstract painting always remains in the realm of what’s intangible. It generally inspires the viewer to feel an emotion, and more often than not, to have an opinion. You either love it or hate it. Because abstract paintings don’t portray realistic subjects, it is more difficult to critique.
DAY 5: Free day! 9.00 AM pickup to go to the train station for those wishing to visit Menton and/or Monaco. (No meals on the free day). Those wishing to rest at the accommodation can do so.
DAY 6: Full morning painting session. Lunch at the villa. Departure for a visit of MANDELIEU-LA NAPOULE castle, directly on the Mediterranean. Dinner in CANNES, near the famous Croisette (close to the Cannes film festival). Back to the accommodation after dinner.
Abstract art achieves harmony or disarray through the balance or unbalance of composition, line, form and technique. Some pieces are woven through intricate methods while others are pure movement of paint across a canvas.
